The show stems from Yi Chen’s ongoing project, “Nearly Natural,” is a response to his experience of feeling alienated while living in urban environments. By exploring the boundary between naturalness and artificiality in these spaces, Yi investigates how the built environment is intentionally crafted through landscape design and architecture. Through his work, he integrates the concept of engineered space-making into his image-making process, employing digital manipulation and staged settings to offer a new perspective of the urban landscape from an elevated vantage point. Through this approach, Yi highlights how the identity-less urban environment blurs the line between reality and illusion, reflecting the everyday experience of urbanization. The natural elements incorporated in his work become a visual metaphor for our desire for fantasy and escape from the busy city life. Ultimately, “Nearly Natural” is a reflection of the human need for compensation in the face of a reality that can often feel overwhelming.

—-Boyang Yu

Gallery